Your boss just said no to a raise. What’s your next move?

You've been working hard as an account manager, delivering great results for your clients and your company. You feel confident that you deserve a raise, and you've prepared a solid case to present to your boss. But when you ask for a meeting, your boss tells you that there's no budget for salary increases, and you'll have to wait until next year. How do you react? What do you do next? Here are some tips to help you handle this situation and plan your future.

1 Stay calm and professional

Don't let your emotions get the best of you. You might feel angry, frustrated, or disappointed, but don't lash out at your boss or show disrespect. Remember that your boss is not your enemy, and that there might be valid reasons for the decision. Thank your boss for their time and feedback, and ask if you can schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss your performance and career goals. This will show that you are mature, respectful, and interested in improving yourself.

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Prem Pandey

Vice President - Client Onboarding, Wealth Management Ops, Investment Banking Middle Office Functions, Fixed Income Derivatives Products and Operational Risk Mgt. Ex - Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase & Nomura
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Well, you have been working for a year long with your best level of commitment and dedication and your manager says NO raise - interesting - that’s unacceptable at a face value. First things first - stay calm, don’t react and curiously ask set of basic questions to your boss to understand the rationale for no raise. Remember, there is no room for any emotions to play here since you want to handle this highly maturely and professionally. Stay determined to get facts on the table and be smart enough to evaluate these facts and validate them for your good.

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Blessing Christopher Edet

Passionate Program Manager | Empowering Youth and Women in NGOs | Building Inclusive Communities| Facilitating Meaningful Change"
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I will not let my emotions get the best of me. You might feel angry, frustrated, or disappointed, but don't lash out at your boss or show disrespect. Remember that your boss is not your enemy, and that there might be valid reasons for the decision. Thank your boss for their time and feedback, and ask if you can schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss your performance and career goals. This will show that you are mature, respectful, and interested in improving yourself.

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Shubham kumar

Inside Sales Specialist | Fostering Connections
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If denied a raise by the boss, request constructive feedback to understand areas for improvement. Explore alternative forms of compensation, such as bonuses or additional benefits. Focus on exceeding expectations, demonstrating value, and revisiting the raise request in the future.

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2 Evaluate your options

Before you decide what to do next, take some time to assess your situation. Ask yourself these questions: How satisfied are you with your current role and responsibilities? How much do you enjoy working with your clients and colleagues? How much do you value the benefits, culture, and opportunities of your company? How competitive is your current salary compared to the market and your peers? How realistic are your expectations for a raise? How flexible are you to negotiate other forms of compensation or recognition? Depending on your answers, you might have different options to consider.

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Prem Pandey

Vice President - Client Onboarding, Wealth Management Ops, Investment Banking Middle Office Functions, Fixed Income Derivatives Products and Operational Risk Mgt. Ex - Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase & Nomura
(edited)
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Remember - the best one to handle and manage your career is your oneself and no one else. Once you have understood the rationale behind no raise you are in a better position to assess if the cause for "no raise" is in your control or out of control. Lemme explain - NOT IN YOUR CONTROL means - raise is not performance driven and there is genuinely no raise across levels in the unit / BU division / Org level. IN YOUR CONTROL means - this is specific to your performance and the values you bring on the table. Now it's time for you to self-reflect for what is to be done ?

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3 Negotiate for alternatives

If you still want to stay with your company, but you feel underpaid or underappreciated, you can try to negotiate for alternatives to a raise. For example, you can ask for more flexible work hours, additional vacation days, a bonus, a commission, a promotion, a training program, or a mentorship opportunity. These can help you improve your work-life balance, your skills, your career path, or your motivation. However, be prepared to justify why you deserve these alternatives, and how they will benefit both you and the company. Also, be willing to compromise and accept a reasonable offer.

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Prem Pandey

Vice President - Client Onboarding, Wealth Management Ops, Investment Banking Middle Office Functions, Fixed Income Derivatives Products and Operational Risk Mgt. Ex - Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase & Nomura
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once you have identified the driver / root cause behind no raise - you are the master for taking next step. firstly - do you see facts / sense in the feedback given by your manager and if yes do you want to continue here ? If you wish to continue - do a thorough self-introspection and come up with step-by-step action plan for your self improvements and eventual performance improvement. Next fix time and sit along with your manager to agree on time plan and timely scheduled review. Make genuine effort of turning the table around by means of 100% effort and commitment and smart working. Be open for feedback. One part of me feels - this is your chance to transform yourself and come up as a value added individual than you were before.

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4 Seek feedback and guidance

Another way to cope with a rejected raise request is to seek feedback and guidance from your boss, your peers, or your mentors. Ask them what they think of your performance, your strengths, your weaknesses, and your potential. Listen to their suggestions on how you can improve your work quality, your client relationships, your communication skills, or your leadership abilities. Learn from their experiences and insights on how they achieved their career goals, or how they dealt with similar challenges. This will help you grow as a professional, and show that you are eager to learn and improve.

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5 Update your resume and network

If you decide that you are unhappy with your company, or that you have no room for growth or advancement, you might want to look for other opportunities. In that case, you should update your resume and network with people in your field or industry. Highlight your achievements, your skills, and your value as an account manager. Reach out to former clients, colleagues, or partners, and ask them for referrals, recommendations, or leads. Browse online job boards, or join professional associations or events. Be proactive and open-minded, and explore your options.

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6 Make a decision and act on it

Finally, after you've weighed your options, negotiated for alternatives, sought feedback and guidance, and updated your resume and network, you should make a decision and act on it. Whether you choose to stay with your company, or to look for a new job, you should communicate your decision to your boss and your clients in a respectful and professional manner. Explain your reasons, express your gratitude, and maintain a positive relationship. Then, focus on your next steps, and pursue your career goals with confidence and enthusiasm.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Your boss just said no to a raise. What’s your next move?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Stay calm and professional

2 Evaluate your options

3 Negotiate for alternatives

4 Seek feedback and guidance

5 Update your resume and network

6 Make a decision and act on it

7 Here’s what else to consider

Account Management

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Your boss just said no to a raise. What’s your next move?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Stay calm and professional

2 Evaluate your options

3 Negotiate for alternatives

4 Seek feedback and guidance

5 Update your resume and network

6 Make a decision and act on it

7 Here’s what else to consider

Account Management

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